BVQA: Still stuck in limbo.

Dani: Thanks a lot, you lazy reviewers!

BVQA: Now, now, Danielle, they're not all LAZY BUMS for not reviewing. One, in particular, shines with radiance!

Dani: You mean Pheek? Our only routine reviewer so far?

BVQA: Yes! It was because of that single review that I got internet connection in this dark abyss, so this chapter goes out to YOU, Pheek!

Dani: Whoo.

Dani rubbed her hands together to get rid of the numbness that came from holding Cujo too long. After the first few minutes, the circulation had been cut off from her hands and she had handed the little wriggling puppy over to Youngblood. She'd worried that Cujo would go back into heckhound mode- after all, Youngblood was one of Danny's enemies- but he'd just whimpered at being separated from Dani until Youngblood scratched him behind the ears. Dani had to wonder about that. If Cujo really was a good judge of character like Frostbite said, why wasn't he taken Youngblood down?

Dani didn't voice her questions out loud, not wanting to sound rude, but Youngblood noticed her look and read between the lines. "He knows I'm not gonna try anything. On the other hand, if Vlad was here. . ."

"He's always up to something." Dani finished for him, then shifted uncomfortably in her dog-slobbered clothes. "You never miss your intangibility until it's gone." She muttered, then caught the little smirk on Youngblood'a face. "Hey! Knock it off or I'll knock it off for you!"

Youngblood gave a small laugh, then reached out and tapped Dani on the shoulder, releasing a small burst of intangibility. Dani sighed in relief as a small puddle of doggy slobber landed on the ground and she gingerly stepped out of it.

"Gross. . ." She said, and Youngblood laughed harder. Dani hit him on the shoulder, causing him to drop Cujo. Dani quickly caught the little green puppy before he hit the ground. "Careful!" Dani reminded him, and he shrugged it off with a grin.

"Hey, I have some people I'd like you to meet." He told her, than grabbed her hand that wasn't currently holding onto Cujo and led her through the crowd, pointing out ghosts as they passed. "This is Amorpho. . . Desiree. . . the Lunch Lady. . . Pandora. . . Spectra. . . Technus. . . Klemper. . . Wulf. . . and Sidney Poindexter. Everyone, this is Dani."

Dani waved at the small group of ghosts he had pointed out, looking them over.

"Amiko." Wulf said. "Friend."

A moment later Dani had slobber on her face for the second time that day. She grabbed Youngblood's shirt with her free hand and wiped her face with it before he could start laughing at her again.

"It's nice to meet you, Wulf." Dani said cheerfully. He gave her a toothy smile and padded off.

The second ghost had no face, but was otherwise well-dressed in a top hat and suit in black and red. Dani held her hand out to him with a smile that quickly dropped from her face as his skin melted into the same tone as hers, glowing eyes winking out at her, white hair covering his head. . .

Dani was soon shaking hands with herself. But it was a version of herself that she had never seen. Dani hadn't had the luxury of a mirror since her impromptu hair cut, and she was devastated by what she saw. Her face was pale, her eyes lacking the usual bright glow having faded to a dull flicker, and her hair. . .

"Oh, God, they did a horrible job on my hair." Dani said, hands flying to the ends of her now-ragged locks. "It looks like someone attacked it with a knife."

"Wait, I just turned into you, and you're stuck on your hair?" Amorpho/Dani pouted. It was weird seeing her own face take on another expression, little pink lips twisting upwards, eyebrows drawing close together.

Youngblood smacked Amorpho/Dani on the back of the head. "Stop trying to scare her! It's not going to work."

Dani shrugged. "It's ok. I just wish-" Immediately, there were nine pairs of hands over Dani's mouth.

"Don't say wish around Desiree!" They all shouted, and Cujo whimpered loudly.

"Sorry. . ." Dani tried to say, but it came out more as 'MMM-mmph'. A moment later eight of the nine hands were removed, the last pair belonging to Youngblood.

"Desiree is the wishing ghost. Never, ever make a wish around her unless you're prepared to accept the consequences." Youngblood showed no signs of letting go anytime soon, so Dani licked his hand. With a yelp, he pulled back. Dani giggled at the look on his face. "Girl slobber! It's on my hand! I'm gonna get cooties!" Youngblood shouted, then ran began running in circles waving his 'infected' hand around in the air. Dani collapsed with laugher on the ground, giggling like a lunatic.

There was a tap on Dani's shoulder and she looked up, wiping a tear from her eye.

"My name is Pandora, but you may call me 'Auntie' if you wish." Pandora said kindly. She was a rather fearsome-looking ghost, with an extra set of arms and a flaming purple headdress, but if you looked past all that she had warm, kind eyes and a nice smile. "I believe you brother is Daniel Phantom? He has been of great assistance to me in the past, so if he is ever in need of mine let me know."

"Ok, Auntie Pandora." Dani agreed.

"You can call me Auntie, too!" The lunch lady ghost said, elbowing Pandora aside. She had a slightly more. . . unbalanced. . . look to her, but she smiled readily enough. "I can't say I'm on the best terms with your brother, but I'm happy to help you out however I can. For starters, you look half-starved! A nice, home-cooked meal would do you good!"

"Um, ok, Auntie-" Dani began.

"Oh, leave the girl alone." Said the third ghost, this one seemingly made out of living shadow. "I'm your Auntie Spectra, alright?"

"Uh. . ."

"Excuse me! I was talking!" Pandora snapped.

"Um. . ."

"The girl needs more meat!"

"Hey, um. . ."

"Obviously, she needs a caring aunt to discuss her problems with!"

"Um, guys. . ."

"What, so you can destroy her from the inside out? Not likely!"

Dani felt a hand on her shoulder and allowed herself to be led away from her quarreling 'Aunties'.

"They do this all the time." A voice whispered in her ear, "But at the end of the day they'll all do knitting club together."

"That's a little insane." Dani replied to the unknown speaker.

"Absotively posilutely." The voice agreed, and this time Dani turned to face it.

"Greetings." Sydney Poindexter said nervously, shifting his feet. He was a thin, transparent specter picked out against the wall in black-and-white like an old photograph. His white cheeks had a light dusting of gray freckles, and his black hair was slicked back from his head. He adjusted his glasses nervously, sliding them up his thin, tapered nose, but they slid back down the moment he took his hand away so he adjusted his bow tie instead.

Dani smiled warmly at him. "Hi, I'm Dani."

"I know. Youngblood's told me about you. Speaking of which. . ." Sidney reached over and grabbed Youngblood by the collar, snapping him out of his 'cooties' loop. He pulled a handkerchief out of his top pocket and wiped Youngblood's hand off thoroughly before folding the handkerchief back up again.

"Thanks. . ." Youngblood gasped breathlessly. "You're my best friend now for sure now, Poindexter."

Dani faked a hurt look. "I thought I was your best friend."

"You have cooties!" Youngblood explained in an exasperated voice.

"It's ok. You can be my best friend." Poindexter placated Dani.

"Aw, thank you, Sid." Dani replied happily. Sam and Tucker were great, but it would be nice to have friends her own age. Kind of.

Sid's cheeks darkened to gray, and Dani realized he was blushing. "I always wanted someone to call me Sid and not Poindexter." He said shyly.

"What are best friends for?" Dani asked. She held out her hand to him. "Best friends?"

"Best friends." He agreed, and shook her hand to seal the deal. Then Youngblood reached in and turned the whole thing into a giant fist bump that then evolved into a sissy fight that eventually ended in Sid sitting on top of Youngblood while Dani tickled him until he turned pink, as things normally go with a trio of kids.

But they held onto that warm feeling that friendship gave them.

They were going to need it.

BVQA: Well, that was interesting. . . I had no idea Sid was going to become friends with Dani until I got to writing him, during which time I was struck by creative lighting and ran around in circles screaming, 'I'm a genius!" very very loudly.

Dani: I know. I was there.

BVQA: *not listening* Anyway, it's just amazing because it totally fits and stuff and. . . well, you'll find out later! Anyway, same thing as last time, reviews will get us out of limbo!

Dani: And I will not survive being trapped in limbo with her for much longer. Please. . . freaking. . . review!